Christmas Trees Edition

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Seasonal pest alerts and news about insects, diseases, and weeds impacting Christmas Tree production including Commercial Ag Updates (meetings and marketing); and Pesticide Program updates from the Rutgers Pest Management Office News Blog.

Companion Website Links:

Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.

Nursery IPM.

June 15, 2026

Landscape IPM Walk at Deep Cut Gardens

Formal garden

June 30, 2026 – 9:00am to 11:00am

Location: Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Rd., Middletown Township, NJ 07748

NJ Pesticide License Recertification Credits

  • 3A: 4
  • 8C: 4
  • 10: 4
  • PP2: 4

This program will provide hands-on experience in IPM best management practices. Participants will tour the ornamental plants of Deep Cut Gardens and learn about scouting, monitoring, timing, insect and disease ID for common issues in our area. Safe application of pesticides with a focus on reduced risk materials will also be covered for each pest. Deep Cut Gardens contains specimens of many of the common plant species that green industry professionals work with in the field, making it an ideal environment to learn about proper best management practices for common problems that they may encounter in their operations. Boxwoods, roses, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous annual and perennial species will be covered. Landscape IPM Walk at Deep Cut Gardens Flyer

This program is geared towards commercial nursery growers and landscapers and will be led by:

  • Steve Rettke: IPM Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
  • Bill Errickson, PhD: Agriculture Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

 

Space is limited.

Pre-registration is required: $25 (cash, check, or purchase order)

Please RSVP to reserve your spot.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

732-431-7260

Catherine.vanBenschoten@co.monmouth.nj.us

 

Hosted by the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth and Cumberland County

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery Tagged With: , , ,
May 28, 2026

Scale crawlers, updated 2026 scouting guide, IPM webinars, Box tree moth

Educational Resource Update: 

Stay informed

  • Sign up for the 2026 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program – click here to sign up
  • Program is free, but registration is required – Registration includes:
    • Site visit to your ornamental nursery/farm from Rutgers agents
    • Delivered printed IPM resources (Guides, factsheets, bulletins)
    • Free pheromone & sticky trap kit + guidance on setup/monitoring (for commercial nursery/greenhouse and Christmas tree farms)
    • Access to live bi-weekly webinars (Zoom)
    • (Next session – TUESDAY 6/9 @ 12PM) – Guest Speaker Dr. Richard Cowles – Connecticut Ag Exp. Station – Scale Management 
    • Every Second and Fourth, Tuesday, April through September
  • Visit the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website (click here) for updated webinar videos.

Scale crawler emergence predictions throughout NJ. 

Now is an excellent time to be scouting for crawler emergence using double sided (or doubled over – sticky side out) tape. Targeting scale insects is most successful during their crawler periods, however this should be visually confirmed for greatest efficacy. For more information on installing this type of IPM trap and others please see – Setting up and deploying IPM traps – Tutorial Video 2026 (click here).

Common Name GDD RANGE Target Stage SOUTH – Upper Deerfield (NJ50) CENTRAL – Howell (NJ10) NORTH – Randolph NJ (AU137)
MIN MAX START STOP START STOP START STOP
Cottony camellia / taxus scale (soft) 520 – Crawlers (only) 17-May – 20-May – 18-May –
Euonymus scale 533 820 Crawlers (Gen 1) 18-May 3-Jun 21-May 8-Jun 18-May 7-Jun
*Cryptomeria scale 600 800 Crawlers (Gen 1) 20-May 2-Jun 27-May 7-Jun 24-May 6-Jun
*Sprucebud scale (soft) 700 1150 Crawlers (only) 27-May 18-Jun 2-Jun 24-Jun 30-May 25-Jun
White prunicola scale 707 1151 Crawlers (Gen 1) 28-May 18-Jun 2-Jun 24-Jun 30-May 25-Jun
*Juniper scale 707 1260 Crawlers (Gen 1) 28-May 18-Jun 2-Jun 24-Jun 30-May 25-Jun
Calico scale (soft) 714 – Crawlers (only) 28-May – 2-Jun – 31-May –
Striped pine scale (soft) 750 800 Crawlers (only) 30-May 2-Jun 4-Jun 7-Jun 2-Jun 6-Jun
Oak lecanium scale (soft) 789 – Crawlers (only) 1-Jun – 6-Jun – 5-Jun –
Cottony maple leaf scale (soft) 802 1265 Crawlers (only) 2-Jun 23-Jun 7-Jun 29-Jun 6-Jun 30-Jun
Cottony maple scale (soft) 802 1265 Crawlers (only) 2-Jun 23-Jun 7-Jun 29-Jun 6-Jun 30-Jun
Golden oak scale (Pit) 802 1266 Crawlers (only) 2-Jun 23-Jun 7-Jun 29-Jun 6-Jun 30-Jun
Japanese maple scale 829 – Crawlers (Gen 1) 3-Jun – 9-Jun – 7-Jun –
European elm scale (soft) 831 1388 Crawlers (only) 4-Jun 27-Jun 9-Jun 4-Jul 8-Jun 6-Jul
European fruit lecanium scale (soft) 932 1645 Crawlers (only) 9-Jun 7-Jul 14-Jun 14-Jul 14-Jun 17-Jul

*Conifer / Christmas Tree scales

Please visit the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website – Pest and Disease Index (click here) for more detailed information on specific scale species management and pesticide considerations.

Box tree moth – stay vigilant looking for this pest

Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is alive and well in MD, DE, VA, WV, NY, OH, MI, MA. Please report this pest to twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu

If this pest does make its way into New Jersey, and quarantines are established, nurseries will be required to comply with a federal compliance agreement if shipping out of potential quarantine areas. Please review this document if boxwoods are an important crop for you. Compliance Agreement for Production Nurseries in BTM Regulated Nurseries (click here)

Box tree moth caterpillars. Photo credit: USDA.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 25, 2026

Networks to Reduce Risk: Field trip to Montclair Community Farms and Program Wrap up

Join us on Saturday, June 13, 2026, for the final event of the Networks to Reduce Risk: Building Viable NJ Farms program! We’re celebrating with a special field trip to Montclair Community Farms from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This fun wrap‑up event offers a great chance to explore urban agriculture, learn about sustainability and community food systems, and connect with fellow participants. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, and it’s the perfect opportunity to take photos and close out the program together. Registration is just $5—save your spot today! You can register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/lxjqrrv7
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
May 11, 2026

Networks to Reduce Risk: Field trip to Montclair Community Farms and Program Wrap up

Join us on Saturday, June 13, 2026, for the final event of the Networks to Reduce Risk: Building Viable NJ Farms program! We’re celebrating with a special field trip to Montclair Community Farms from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This fun wrap‑up event offers a great chance to explore urban agriculture, learn about sustainability and community food systems, and connect with fellow participants. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, and it’s the perfect opportunity to take photos and close out the program together. Registration is just $5—save your spot today! You can register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/lxjqrrv7
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
April 30, 2026

Networks to Reduce Risk: Field trip to Montclair Community Farms and Program Wrap up

Join us on Saturday, June 13, 2026, for the final event of the Networks to Reduce Risk: Building Viable NJ Farms program! We’re celebrating with a special field trip to Montclair Community Farms from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This fun wrap‑up event offers a great chance to explore urban agriculture, learn about sustainability and community food systems, and connect with fellow participants. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, and it’s the perfect opportunity to take photos and close out the program together. Registration is just $5—save your spot today! You can register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/lxjqrrv7
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
April 25, 2026

Field Trip: Managing Risk on your Agritourism Farm

There’s still time to register!

Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm

Tuesday, April 28

10.00am – 1.00pm

Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/ncudh8xr 

 

Managing Risk on your Agritourism Farm A field trip to the Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,